What Is the Purpose of api_marketplace.json in OpenAI Plugins

The api_marketplace.json file does not exist in the OpenAI Plugins repository; marketplace metadata is instead stored in individual .app.json manifest files within each plugin directory.

The OpenAI Plugins repository hosts example implementations and manifests for ChatGPT plugins. Developers searching for a central api_marketplace.json configuration file will find that this specific filename—along with camelCase variants like apiMarketplace.json—is absent from the codebase, with plugin metadata distributed across decentralized manifest files instead.

File Absence in the Repository

Comprehensive searches of the entire openai/plugins codebase confirm that api_marketplace.json is not present in any directory. Grepping for patterns including "apiMarketplace", "api_marketplace", and "marketplace" across all JSON files yields no references to this configuration file. According to the source code analysis, the repository root contains no such file, and it does not appear in any plugin subdirectory under plugins/*/.

Where Marketplace Data Actually Lives

Rather than using a centralized marketplace registry, the architecture embeds marketplace metadata directly within each plugin's .app.json manifest. These files are located at plugins/<plugin-name>/.app.json and serve as the canonical source for all marketplace-visible information.

Key fields within these manifests include:

• name_for_human – The display name shown in the marketplace
• description_for_human – The user-facing description
• logo_url – The icon displayed in the plugin store
• contact_email – Support contact information
• legal_info_url – Links to terms of service and privacy policies

This decentralized approach allows each plugin to maintain its own metadata independently rather than relying on a monolithic registry file.

Structure of Plugin Manifest Files

The .app.json files follow a standardized schema that defines both the API contract and marketplace presentation. All fields required for marketplace listing are self-contained within this manifest, eliminating the need for a separate api_marketplace.json file.

{
  "schema_version": "v1",
  "name_for_human": "Slack",
  "description_for_human": "Send messages to Slack channels",
  "auth": { "type": "service_http" },
  "api": {
    "type": "openapi",
    "url": "https://slack.com/openapi.json",
    "has_user_authentication": true
  },
  "logo_url": "https://example.com/logo.png",
  "contact_email": "support@example.com",
  "legal_info_url": "https://example.com/legal"
}

Other Related Configuration Files

While api_marketplace.json is absent, the repository does contain other configuration files at the root level:

• opencode.json – Contains repository-level metadata and coding standards, unrelated to marketplace functionality
• README.md – Provides general documentation and setup instructions for the plugins repository

Summary

• api_marketplace.json is not present in the OpenAI Plugins repository and serves no functional purpose in the current codebase.
• Marketplace metadata resides in .app.json files located within individual plugin directories (plugins/*/.app.json).
• Each plugin maintains its own manifest containing fields like name_for_human, description_for_human, and logo_url that populate the ChatGPT marketplace.
• No centralized registry file is required for plugin registration or marketplace display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does api_marketplace.json exist in the OpenAI Plugins repository?

No. Comprehensive searches of the codebase confirm that neither api_marketplace.json nor apiMarketplace.json exists in any directory. The repository uses a decentralized manifest system instead.

Where is marketplace metadata stored if not in api_marketplace.json?

Marketplace metadata is stored in each plugin's .app.json file, typically located at plugins/<plugin-name>/.app.json. These manifest files contain all fields necessary for marketplace display, including human-readable names, descriptions, and logos.

Can I create an api_marketplace.json file to register my plugin?

Creating an api_marketplace.json file would have no effect, as the OpenAI Plugins platform does not reference this filename. To register a plugin, you must define a valid .app.json manifest with the required schema fields and host it at the appropriate path within your plugin's domain.

What fields in .app.json are visible in the ChatGPT marketplace?

The marketplace displays name_for_human, description_for_human, and logo_url from the .app.json manifest. Additionally, contact_email and legal_info_url are used for compliance and support links, though they may not be prominently displayed in the UI.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}